Clamp for securing vessel internals

ABSTRACT

A vessel tray clamp is provided. The vessel tray clamp includes a distal end lying in a first plane and having a first width. The vessel tray clamp also includes a proximate end lying in a second plane that is not the first plane. The proximate end has a second width greater than the first width and has an elongated opening therethrough. An arcuate intermediate portion interconnects the distal end and proximate end. The arcuate intermediate portion has the first width adjacent the distal end and the second width adjacent the proximate end to form a shoulder therebetween.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to clamps for use in vessels, and more particularly relates to clamps for securing trays to support structures of vessels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vessels, such as, hydroprocessing vessels, reactors, absorbers, strippers, and distillation columns, typically utilize trays for vapor-liquid contacting. Often, trays are installed during initial construction of the vessel, as well as removed and installed during vessel downtime for maintenance or refurbishing. Bolts and nuts may be used to secure the tray to a support ring positioned along an internal circumference of the vessel. Typically, such fasteners are used with J-shaped clamps.

However, traditional bolts and nuts and J-shaped clamps can suffer from several disadvantages when used in vessels. Particularly, installing a nut and bolt arrangement without a clamp can require extensive time and labor. Further, lining up a bolt with a J-shaped clamp while holding the J-shaped clamp in position before fastening can be very difficult. Also, keeping the J-shaped clamp in proper orientation with the support structure while tightening the fastener can be difficult when the installer is positioned on one side of a tray.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a clamp for securing trays inside a vessel that overcomes these disadvantages. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Vessel tray clamps for securing a tray and a support structure in a vessel are provided. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the vessel tray clamp includes a distal end lying in a first plane and having a first width. The vessel tray clamp also includes a proximate end lying in a second plane that is not the first plane. The proximate end has a second width greater than the first width and is formed with an elongated opening therethrough. An arcuate intermediate portion interconnects the distal end and proximate end. The arcuate intermediate portion is formed with the first width adjacent the distal end and the second width adjacent the proximate end to form a shoulder therebetween.

In another embodiment, a vessel tray clamp for securing a tray to a support structure in a vessel is provided. The support structure includes a topside and an underside, and the tray includes an upper surface and a lower surface for resting on the topside of the support structure. The vessel tray clamp has a distal end configured to be inserted from the upper surface of the tray through the tray for abutment with the underside of the support structure. Also, the vessel tray clamp includes an intermediate portion configured to be received in and engage the tray. Engagement of the intermediate portion with the tray substantially limits movement of the clamp to within a single plane. Further, the vessel tray clamp has a proximate end configured for engagement with the tray by a selectable engagement force. The vessel tray clamp is configured to increase compression force on the support structure by the clamp and the tray when the engagement force is increased.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, a clamp for securing a tray to a support structure in a vessel is provided. The support structure includes a topside and an underside, and the tray includes an upper surface and a lower surface for resting on the topside of the support structure. The vessel tray clamp has a distal end configured to be inserted from the upper surface of the tray through the tray for abutment with the underside of the support structure. Also, the vessel tray clamp includes an intermediate portion configured to be received in and engage the tray. Further, the vessel tray clamp has a proximate end configured to receive a fastener to engage the clamp and the tray to control a selectable engagement force therebetween. The vessel tray clamp is configured to have a single orientation for installation and to hold a stationary position when the fastener is received during installation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a vessel using a vessel tray clamp in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vessel tray clamp of FIG. 1 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of a vessel tray clamp during and after installation in a vessel for securing a vessel tray to vessel support structure in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate vessel tray clamp in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the vessel tray clamp of FIG. 5 shown engaging a tray; and

FIG. 7 is an end view of the vessel tray clamp of FIG. 5 shown engaging a tray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description of the invention.

Various exemplary embodiments contemplated herein are directed to clamps for securing trays to a support structure in a vessel. The clamps are configured for easy installation in the vessel, and for fewer clamps per tray. Specifically, an increased compression force exhibited by the clamps herein allows for a reduced number of clamps per tray.

An exemplary vessel 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1. vessel 10 can be any suitable vessel, for example, a hydroprocessing vessel, a reactor, an absorber, a stripper, a distillation column, or the like. Generally, such a vessel 10 facilitates mass transfer operations in a flow orientation, such as downflow, upflow, co-current flow, and counter-current flow for one or more fluid including a vapor, a liquid, and/or a mixed-phase of vapor and liquid. As shown, vessel 10 includes vapor and/or liquid mixing, contacting, collecting, and/or redistributing tray 12. While only one tray 12 is shown for illustrative purposes, it will be appreciated that vessel 10 can have any number of trays suitable for a particular application. As shown, tray 12 rests on, and is typically secured to, support structure 16. Usually, tray 12 has several openings for permitting the passage of fluid there-through, such as allowing liquid to flow downward and gas to rise upwards to facilitate mass transfer operations. Tray 12 can include other structures, such as bubble caps, tray valves, downcomers, and weirs to facilitate desired operations.

In FIG. 1, vessel 10 forms an enclosure 14 provided with an internal support structure 16 which includes a support ring 18 and/or one or more beams 20. As shown, clamps 22 are used to secure tray 12 to support structure 16, such as support ring 18 or support beams 20 that may underlie tray 12. Typically, support ring 18 encircles the internal volume of the vessel 10 and is secured by any suitable means, such as welding, to the walls of enclosure 14. Beams 20 can also be coupled to the walls of enclosure 14, using any suitable means, such as welding.

An exemplary embodiment of clamp 22 is illustrated in FIG. 2. Clamp 22 is generally S-shaped and includes a midline 24 that defines a longitudinal plane 26. Clamp 22 has a distal end 28, an intermediate portion 30, and a proximate end 32. As shown, intermediate portion 30 is arcuate while distal end 28 and proximate end 32 are substantially planar and parallel. Depending on the desired use, distal end 28 may be arcuate or planar and non-parallel to proximate end 32. As shown, distal end 28 and intermediate portion 30 have a width 34. Further, clamp 22 is formed with a shoulder 36 that has a shoulder width 38. Shoulder width 38 is greater than width 34. Clamp 22 is also formed with an elongated opening 40 that has a longitudinal axis 42 coincident with midline 24. In FIG. 2, elongated opening 40 is completely bound by clamp 22.

Clamp 22 is preferably made of stainless steel, and most preferably stainless steel 321 and stainless steel 347. Grades 321 and 347 are the basic austenitic 18/8 steel stabilized by titanium (321) or niobium (347) additions. These grades are used because they are not sensitive to intergranular corrosion after heating within the carbide precipitation range of 425-850° C. Grade 321 is the grade of choice for applications in the temperature range of up to about 900° C., combining high strength, resistance to scaling and phase stability with resistance to subsequent aqueous corrosion. A limitation with 321 is that titanium does not transfer well across a high temperature arc, so is not recommended as a welding consumable. In this case grade 347 is preferred—the niobium performs the same carbide stabilization task but can be transferred across a welding arc. Grades, 321 and 347 have excellent forming characteristics, are readily brake or roll formed and have outstanding welding characteristics. Post-weld annealing is not required. They also have excellent toughness, even down to cryogenic temperatures. For installation in vessels having less severe conditions, lower grade materials such as Killed Carbon Steel may be used for the clamps. Regardless of the specific material used, during fabrication of clamps 22, the clamp 22 is typically stamped from a standard 6 mm thick plate. The shoulders 36 and elongated opening 40 are then cut and the material is bent into the desired S-shape.

As may be seen in reference to FIG. 3, clamp 22 is designed for facilitating installation and engagement with tray 12 and support structure 16 (i.e., support ring 18). In FIG. 3, tray 12 includes an edge 50, a slot 52 located proximate to edge 50, an upper surface 54, a lower surface 56 resting on support structure 16, a hole 58, and optionally a nut 60 aligned with hole 58 and tack welded to lower surface 56. Tray 12 may be circular, with a tangent line at 61. Support structure 16 includes a topside 62 and an underside 64. Also, a gasket or seal blanket 66 is positioned at the interface 68 between tray 12 and support structure 16.

With this understanding of the structure of tray 12, support structure 16, and clamp 22, installation of clamp 22 may be considered. As shown in an initial position 70 in FIG. 3, distal end 28 of clamp 22 is inserted into and passed through slot 52 in tray 12 in the direction of arrow 72. As intermediate portion 30 reaches slot 52, translational movement of clamp 22 continues in the direction of arrow 72, while clamp 22 is also pivoted in the direction of arrow 74 about slot axis or intersecting line 76. It is noted that the alignment and tight fit between the slot 52 and the distal end 28 of the clamp 22 limits both translational and pivotable movement of the clamp 22 to within the longitudinal plane 26 (the plane of the drawing page in FIG. 3). Movement of clamp 22 in the direction of arrows 72 and 74 continues until clamp 22 reaches a stationary position 78 when shoulder 36 abuts upper surface 54 of tray 12. In stationary position 78, in addition to the contact between shoulder 36 and tray 12, distal end 28 of clamp 22 contacts underside 64 of support structure 16. Further, slot 52 and clamp 22 are sized to allow insertion of clamp 22 but to prevent substantially any pivotable movement of clamp 22 other than about slot axis 76.

As shown in FIG. 4, upon reaching stationary position 78, a fastener 80, such as a threaded bolt or other known fasteners, may be passed through elongated opening 40 in clamp 22 and through hole 58 and nut 60 in tray 12. The length of elongate opening 40 facilitates the alignment fastener 80 with hole 58 regardless of differing distances between the support structure 16 and hole 58. Further, when passing fastener 80 through elongated opening 40, the necessary downward pressure of the action on proximate end 32 of clamp 22 further holds clamp 22 in stationary position 78 and reduces or eliminates slippage or unwanted movement of clamp 22 during installation.

After fastener 80 is engaged with clamp 22 and tray 12, it may be selectably tightened with an engagement force in the direction of arrows 82 to reduce the distance 84 therebetween. As distance 84 is decreased, a compressive force in the direction of arrows 86 is exerted onto support structure 16 (and gasket 66). With the levering action of clamp 22, the engagement force 82 of fastener 80 is multiplied by a factor dependent on the location of the fulcrum (slot axis 76) and length of clamp 22 to exert compressive force 86, which may be optimized to provide a desired compressive force 86 depending on the anticipated operations in vessel 10. In any event, compressive force 86 exhibited by clamp 22 is substantially increased over current tray clamps in commercial use.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, an alternate embodiment of the vessel tray clamp 22 is shown. It is noted that the view of FIG. 6 is taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5, and the view of FIG. 7 is taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 5. In FIGS. 5-7, tray 12 includes a stud or projection 90 that extends upward from and substantially perpendicular to the upper surface 54 of tray 12. Preferably, projection 90 is steel and is welded to the upper surface 54 of tray 12. Projection 90 is formed with a vertically-extending aperture 92. As shown in FIGS. 5-7, clamp 22 includes a distal edge 94 that forms elongated opening 40. In other words, elongated opening 40 is not completely bounded by clamp 22. As a result, clamp 22 may be positioned and slidingly engaged with projection 90. After clamp 22 is brought to stationary position 78, a fastener 80 such as a wedge pin is forced into aperture 92, exerting an engagement force on clamp 22. Specifically, fastener 80 includes a sloping surface 96 that contacts projection 90 to exert the downward engagement force as fastener 80 is driven into aperture 92.

As may be imagined, there are a number of methods known in the art for engaging the proximate end of the clamp with the tray. While two specific types of fasteners are illustrated and discussed herein, other fasteners and reciprocating proximate end and tray designs are contemplated herein.

Accordingly, a vessel tray clamp for securing a tray to a support structure in a vessel has been provided. From the foregoing, it is to be appreciated that the exemplary embodiments of the vessel tray clamp facilitate installation by limiting the clamp to a single orientation for installation, by limiting movement of the clamp to within a single plane during installation, and by holding the clamp in a stationary position during fastening of the clamp to the tray. Further, the vessel tray clamp exerts a substantially increased compression force to secure the seal between the tray and support structure.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the invention, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 

1. A vessel tray clamp comprising: a distal end lying in a first plane and having a first width; a proximate end lying in a second plane that is not the first plane, wherein the proximate end has a second width greater than the first width, and wherein the proximate end has an elongated opening therethrough; and an arcuate intermediate portion interconnecting the distal end and proximate end, wherein the arcuate intermediate portion has the first width adjacent the distal end and the second width adjacent the proximate end and has a shoulder therebetween.
 2. The vessel tray clamp of claim 2, wherein the elongated opening is bounded completely by the proximate end.
 3. The vessel tray clamp of claim 2, wherein the proximate end terminates at a proximate edge, and wherein the elongated opening is formed by the proximate edge.
 4. The vessel tray clamp of claim 1 wherein the clamp is configured to secure a tray to a support structure in a vessel, wherein the support structure includes a topside and an underside, wherein the tray includes an upper surface and a lower surface for resting on the topside of the support structure, and wherein the distal end of the clamp is configured to be inserted from the upper surface of the tray through the tray for abutment with the underside of the support structure.
 5. The vessel tray clamp of claim 4 wherein the intermediate portion of the clamp is configured to be received in and engage the tray, and wherein engagement with the tray substantially limits movement of the clamp to within a single plane.
 6. The vessel tray clamp of claim 5 wherein the proximate end of the clamp is configured for engagement with the tray by a selectable engagement force; and wherein the clamp is configured to increase compression force on the support structure by the clamp and the tray when the engagement force is increased.
 7. The vessel tray clamp of claim 6 wherein the shoulder is configured to abut the upper surface of the support structure.
 8. The vessel tray clamp of claim 7 wherein the clamp has a single orientation for installation between the tray and the support structure.
 9. A clamp for securing a tray to a support structure in a vessel, wherein the support structure includes a topside and an underside, and wherein the tray includes an upper surface and a lower surface for resting on the topside of the support structure, the clamp comprising: a distal end configured to be inserted from the upper surface of the tray through the tray for abutment with the underside of the support structure; an intermediate portion configured to be received in and engage the tray, wherein engagement with the tray substantially limits movement of the clamp to within a single plane; and a proximate end configured for engagement with the tray by a selectable engagement force; wherein the clamp is configured to increase compression force on the support structure by the clamp and the tray when the engagement force is increased.
 10. The clamp of claim 9 wherein the clamp is configured to intersect the tray along an intersecting line, and wherein the single plane is substantially perpendicular to the intersecting line.
 11. The vessel tray clamp of claim 10 wherein the clamp is configured to be pivotable about the intersecting line when the intermediate portion is received in the tray.
 12. The vessel tray clamp of claim 9 wherein the clamp includes a shoulder adjacent the intermediate portion, and wherein the shoulder is configured to abut the upper surface of the support structure when the intermediate portion is received in the tray.
 13. The vessel tray clamp of claim 9 wherein the clamp has a single orientation for installation between the tray and the support structure.
 14. The vessel tray clamp of claim 9 wherein the proximate end is configured to receive a fastener to engage the clamp and the tray and to control the engagement force therebetween.
 15. A clamp for securing a tray to a support structure in a vessel, wherein the support structure includes a topside and an underside, and wherein the tray includes an upper surface and a lower surface for resting on the topside of the support structure, the clamp comprising: a distal end configured to be inserted from the upper surface of the tray through the tray for abutment with the underside of the support structure; an intermediate portion configured to be received in and engage the tray; and a proximate end configured to receive a fastener to engage the clamp and the tray to control a selectable engagement force therebetween; wherein the clamp is configured to have a single orientation for installation and to hold a stationary position when the fastener is received during installation.
 16. The vessel tray clamp of claim 15 wherein the clamp is configured to having its movement substantially limited to within a single plane when the intermediate portion is received in the tray.
 17. The vessel tray clamp of claim 16 wherein the clamp is configured to intersect the tray along an intersecting line, and wherein the single plane is substantially perpendicular to the intersecting line.
 18. The vessel tray clamp of claim 17 wherein the clamp is configured to be pivotable about the intersecting line when the intermediate portion is received in the tray.
 19. The vessel tray clamp of claim 18 wherein the clamp includes a shoulder adjacent the intermediate portion, and wherein the shoulder is configured to abut the upper surface of the support structure when the intermediate portion is received in the tray.
 20. The vessel tray clamp of claim 19 wherein the clamp is configured to increase a compression force on the support structure by the clamp and the tray when the engagement force is increased. 